Bicycle



No. 620,294. Patented- Feb. 28, [899. J. 6. FLEMING.

BICYCLE.

(Application flld July 15, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. FLEMING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BlC YCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 620,294, dated February 28, 1899. Application filed July 15 1898- Serial No. 686 ,012. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bicycles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to bicycles; and it consists of an improved construction of handle-bar therefor, the object being to relieve the rider of the continuous jar or vibration ordinarily received in riding over rough roads and to furthermore relieve the bicycle in a great degree of the tension or strain to which it is now subjected from the weight of the rider and during its progression over ordinary obstructions.

It also consists in providing means whereby the handle-bar can be removed or disconnected from the handle-bar post at will, thus reducing the liability of theft of the bicycle, as is evident, and the handle-bar being furthermore capable of being placed in its socket in horizontal alinement with the frame of the bicycle, whereby the latter takes up less room in shipping or when economy of space is desired and is also less liable to injury.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a portion of a handle-bar embodying my invention, certain of the parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 00 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a portion of the devices seen in Fig. 1 in detached position.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the fork of a bicycle, the same consisting of the upwardly-extending cylinder or shell B, the lower portion of which is provided with the ledge or shoulder G, upon which latter rests one end of the spring D, the upper end thereof supporting the plate E, which is provided with the flange F, within which is seated, but disconnected therefrom, the upwardlyextending tube G, which latter is attached to the cross-piece H of the handle-bar. J designates a rod which passes through openings K in said handle-bar and is provided with a head L, by means of which said rod can be raised or lowered, said rod having a shoulder M thereon, which serves as a stop and prevents said rod from being lifted too far.

N designates a conical-shaped head which has the levers P bearing thereon, the position of said levers being assured by means of the springs Q, said levers being fulcrumed at R and provided with the catches or noses S, which latter enter openings or slots T in the inner tube G and are adapted to bear against the shoulders U, formed by the lower portion of the ring V, which is brazed or otherwise secured to the upper portion of the tube B.

W designates V shaped projections or tongues,which are attached to the tube G by brazing or other suitable means and are adapted to engage similarly-shaped grooves X in the rings V, the latter being also provided with grooves Y, which are located at right angles to the grooves X,'whereby the handle-bar H can be turned into longitudinal alinement with the frame of the bicycle or at right angles thereto, as may be desired.

. V Z designates the outer tube,which incloses the parts above described, the tube B, to which the fork is attached, being rotatably mounted therein, while the cap A engages the upper portion of said tube Z and serves to hold all the parts in assembled position.

The operation is as follows: The parts normally appear as seen in Fig. 1, wherein the handle-bar H is at substantially a right angle to the frame of the bicycle or to the line of direction of movement of the bicycle. When the bicycle is propelled, the continuous jar or vibration which ordinarily takes place is taken up by reason of the resiliency of the spring D, as is evident, said spring having sufficient tension to overcome the weight of the rider, which is ordinarily put upon the handle-bar H, and it will thus be apparent that the jar and vibration ordinarily incident to the movement of the bicycle will be wholly absorbed or dispensed with. \Vhen it is desired for any reason to turn the handle-bar H so that the latter will be in alinement with the fork of the bicycle, it is only necessary to raise the rod J by means of the head L or otherwise, whereby the levers H are actuated until the catches S are disengaged from the slots T, wherefrom it will be seen that the handle-bar H can be lifted and turned ninety degrees or until the V-shaped tongues W engage the oppositely-located recesses Y, the handle now being in alinement with the frame of the bicycle,whereby space is greatly economized,which is especially desirable in shipping bicycles or when it is de sired to push the same through narrow doors, passages, &c. When it is desired to remove the handle entirely from the bicycle, so as to prevent stealing of the same, it is only necessary to lift the rod J so that the catches S are disengaged from the adjacent Walls or recesses, whereupon the tube 0 can be readily withdrawn, it being understood that said tube is not connected to the plate E or the flange F.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bicycle handle-bar, a bicycle-fork, an outer tube secured thereto, a spring secured within said tube, an inner tube supported by said spring and provided with openings, catches suitably pivoted within said inner tube and adapted to extend through said openings, means on said outer tube engaging said catches after they have passed through said openings and means for operating said catches from the exterior.

2. In a bicycle handle-bar, a bicycle-fork, having a tube arising therefrom, a shoulder or ledge contained within said tube, a spring supported upon said shoulder, a plate supported by said spring, and having a flange, an inner tube mounted upon said plate Within said flange, levers pivoted in the upper portion of said inner tube and having catches attached thereto, said catches extending into openings in the walls of said inner tube, shoulders on the outer tube adapted to be engaged by said catches, a conical or similar-shaped head upon which the upper extremity of said levers is adapted to bear, springs for holding said levers in contact with said head, means for operating said head from the exterior and V-shaped tongues on said inner tube, said tongues being adapted to engage similarlyshaped recesses within the outer tube.

3. In a bicycle handle-bar, a fork having a tube projecting therefrom, a collar attached to the upper portion of said tube and provided with V-shaped recesses therein, an inner tube to which the handle-bar is attached, said tube having V-shaped tongues thereon adapted to engage said recesses, slots in said inner tube below said tongues, spring-actuated catches entering said slots, shoulders on the outer tube adapted to be engaged by said catches, a conical head mounted on a rod extending through said handle-bar and adapted to actuate the levers on which said catches are mounted, a plate having a flange thereon, in which said inner tube is adapted to be seated, a spring on which said plate is supported, the lower extremity of said spring bearing upon aledge or flange in the lowerportion of the tube or extension of the cycle-fork,

an outer inclosing tube and a cap therefor.

4. In a bicycle handle-bar, a bicycle-fork having a tube secured thereto, a spring supported within said tube, an inner tube mounted upon said spring, levers pivoted in said inner tube and having catches attached thereto, said catches extending into openings in the walls of said inner tube, shoulders on the outer tube adapted to be engaged by said catches, a conical or similar-shaped head upon which the upper extremity of said levers is adapted to bear, springs for holding said levers in contact with said head, means for operating said head from the exterior and V-shaped tongues on said inner tube, said tongues being adapted to engage similarshaped recesses within the outer tube.

JOHN C. FLEMING.

Witnesses:

E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, lVM. C. YVIEDERSHEIM. 

